As a way of checking the infiltration of fifth
columnists who would want to cause maximum havoc in the South East, a call has
gone to the governors of the South East to initiate immediate and comprehensive
biometric registration scheme free of all administrative charges of all valid
residents of the zone.
Besides, the recent statement credited to the
governor of Borno State Alhaji Kashim Shettima that the armed Islamic
insurgents would extend their bombing campaign should be thoroughly probed to
ascertain whether the Sunday June 15th, 2014 attempt to bomb five
churches in Owerri, Imo State has any connection just as politicians have been
called upon to be circumspect with their public statements and avoid careless
talks on the ongoing insurgency to avoid providing psychological boost for the
armed terrorists.
In a statement by HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS
ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) and endorsed jointly by the National
Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Director Miss.
Zainab Yusuf, the political leadership of the South East especially the
governors and local council chairmen including traditional rulers were tasked
to always stay on their desks in their jurisdictions within the South East and
fashion out counter terrorism measures and mobilize their wards and other
lawful residents to stave off possible infiltration of the dare- devil
terrorists rather than their frequent trips to Abuja and foreign countries on
fruitless voyage of discovery. " The houses of Assembly of the South East
States should make binding legislations to compel the state governors to spend
at least 85 percent of the entire tenure provided under the extant constitution
within their states and only travel when it is absolutely necessary to so do
for the public interest of the people".
HURIWA has also tasked prominent investors and
business owners based in the South East region to work out and implement fool-
proof security measures to prevent any possible bomb attacks just as the group
has demanded the setting up of Youth-led volunteer groups in the South East to
monitor suspicious strange movements and to enlighten the populace on ways and
means of remaining ahead of the terrorists.
“We commend the gallantry exhibited by the Imo
State police command in responding promptly to diffuse the explosives planted
at the premises of Winners chapel in Owerri, imo State. The Imo state
commissioner of police and his management team should be commended and
encouraged to keep up the tempo of prompt, decisive and effective law enforcement.
We also asked the Imo State police command, the state security services'
directorate in Imo State and the military institution to set up effective
counter terrorism task force to check activities of terrorists who may be
plotting to invade the state”.
"Similarly, the entire South East police
and security institutions must set up efficient anti-terrorism task force and
embark on widespread enlightenment campaign to educate the populace on
strategies for identifying and reporting would -be terrorists. We encourage the
introduction of biometric identification cards for all residents of South East
and for traditional and religious leaders to keep tabs on all persons within
their jurisdiction”.
On the statement by Bornu State governor, HURIWA
said; “we are worried that in less than 78 hours after this bizarre media
comments credited to the Borno State governor that Boko Haram will attack the
Southern states if the uprisings are not crushed in the North Eastern States,
these satanic bombers actually proceeded to plant explosives to inflict maximum
chaos in the heartland of Igboland but for the swift intervention of the police
and vigilant private guards at the winners church".
"We hereby demand the probe of that
statement and advise politicians to watch their tongues to avoid providing fuel
for the ongoing insurgencies. Those entrusted with the onerous task of
providing good governance and leadership as governors must guard against
utterances that may be misconstrued as providing tonic for the armed terrorists
to continue or intensify their war against the Nigerian people and the Nigerian
state. We are not concluding that the statement by the Borno state governor
actually encouraged the bombers who invaded Imo state over the weekend but
certainly, as patriotic citizens, we are worried that leaders who have easy
access to the media of mass communication are engaged in the deployment of
these powerful media to make unwarranted and sensational statements capable of
creating mixed signals especially in these dangerous times of armed
insurgencies".
HURIWA
has therefore called on Nigerian political leaders to close ranks and work as a
united front to wage successful and unrelenting battle against armed terrorists
because the danger in making divisive and deeply partisan statements from both
the ruling Peoples Democratic Party and the Opposition All Progressives
Congress concerning the ongoing terrorism is that these agents of
destabilization will have the belief that they are indeed winning in their
war against corporate Nigeria and may be motivated to intensify their war
crimes.
16/6/2014
No comments:
Post a Comment